Cannot cope with DD's eczema any more...

[Schulte]

...is there a support group somewhere? A hotline where I can cry down the phone? Or can you lovely people cheer me up a bit?

No need to go private, just demand referral to dermatology via GP. It's your right so don't take no for an answer.

cheesegirl, have you tried something like scratchsleeves? They've been so useful for us. Stopping the scratching is crucial to controlling the flare ups I've found.
IME going private did nothing to help me when I was little. We tried just about every cream and treatment there was. Eczema is such an individual thing, it's hard to tell what will work for you. And then, you'll find something that works, you use it, and then one day, it stops working. It's incredibly frustrating.
The only thing that consistently worked for me (and now is working for ds) was swimming in the sea. But no doubt, someone else will come along and say the sea made theirs worse.

Don;t go private. No pOint. Get a derm referral.

I went to a private consultation once. They tell you exactly the same stuff. Definitely not worth your money.

Ah Schulte it sounds so tough.
Its all so individual, but here's my thoughts:
It sounds like you need to get a stronger steroid to bring the rawness right down and then start with the emollient/moisturising/bathing regime.

Bathing, moisturising/sea water etc won't work until you have got the infected flared up down. She may need an antibiotic to get rid of any infection.

You definitely need to see a dermatologist or eczema clinic to advise on this.

When my dd's eczema was terrible we were advised that the effects of topical steroids is very minimal compared with the infection/scarring.

I really feel for you. Eczema is pants pants pants and pants again for you and your dd.

Try to look after yourself and get a break. Its totally draining.

Another word on the steroids, I think that the repeated use of a too mild steroid is worse than one 5 day stretch of a Big Guns steroid that will bring the sking under control and you won't have to use it again for a good while.

Read the thread back and realise everything I have said has been said already, so just have a and a from me instead

Just want to say I'll be reading through everyone's comments as my DD 3yr old is really suffering with eczema too. Tonight she was crying in pain - we put her in the bath as usual with Oilatum and it made her skin sting so we had to lift her out. Going to avoid the Oilatum.
I can sympathise with you OP. It really is awful to live with.

Thought I'd post an update because you've all been so very helpful. DD has had a 10 day course of Flucloxacillin because there was indeed an infection, which everyone else in the family got as well so we all had to take ABs. The referral from the GP turned out to be indeed to a paed rather than a dermatologist, but at least she's now going to have allergy tests for all sorts of things including nuts - phew - so that's a result. Even if he didn't have anything else to say re. her skin.

One of you (forgot the name ) recommended that I should refer myself to an eczema education workshop, and I went this week and it was excellent. Next week the nurse will cover exactly how to use emollients and steroids and work out a care plan with us - something that I think will really help.

As lots of you have said, and the workshop confirmed, is that dd should have a daily bath with Dermol so we're starting that now.

We've just come off the Eumovate and will see how long we can keep going with just emollients.

Fingers crossed!

Schulte - that's excellent news. Fingers crossed its onwards and upwards from here!

I'm really pleased for you Schulte. It sounds as though there are some really positive things to move things forward on your dd's eczema.
I hope that you are feeling a little more in control.
Do keep us posted.